18/07/2008: The additional material data cube released on 15 May 2008 was reissued in order to correct an error in the Relative Standard Errors provided for 2001-2003. Other parts of the publication are not affected.

12/05/2008: An additional data cube was added that provides data in Excel spreadsheets for Persons with a qualification at AQF Certificate III level or above, by State/Territory of Residence, Sex and age group. Includes data for 2001-2007.

15/05/2008: The additional data cube added on 12/05/2008 was reissued in order to correct an error in the Proportion of persons for 2005 and formatting of each spreadsheet for printing. Other parts of the publication are not affected.

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication presents information about the educational experience of persons aged 15-64 years, especially in relation to their labour force status.

Statistics in this publication were collected in May 2007 as a supplement to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) monthly Labour Force Survey (LFS).

Information collected in the survey includes: participation in education in the year prior to the survey, and in the survey month; labour force characteristics; type of educational institution; level of education of current and previous study; highest year of school completed; level of highest non-school qualification; level of highest educational attainment; unmet demand for education in current year; and selected characteristics of apprentices.

Unless otherwise specified, differences between data items highlighted in the Summary of Findings are statistically significant.

This publication includes Data Cubes in spreadsheet format available on the ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au>. An expanded range of statistics in spreadsheet format will supplement this publication and will also be available on the ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au> at a later date.

As estimates have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.

SUMMARY COMMENTARY

PARTICIPATION

In May 2007, there were 13.6 million Australians aged 15–64 years in the scope of the survey, of whom 2.5 million (18%) were enrolled in a course of study. Approximately 928,800 (37%) of these enrolled persons were attending a higher education institution, 725,900 (29%) were at school, 518,700 (21%) were at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, and 315,400 (13%) were at other educational institutions. (Table 1)

In May 2007, 53% of persons enrolled in a course of study were females, 43% were aged 15-19 years, and 64% were studying full-time. (Table 1)

Study leading to a qualification

Approximately 95% (2.4 million) of persons who were enrolled in a course of study, were enrolled in a course leading to a qualification. The proportion of persons aged 15-64 years who were enrolled in a course leading to a qualification increased from 16% in 1997 to 17% in 2007. (Table 2)

More than one in four (28%) persons enrolled in a course leading to a qualification were studying for a Bachelor Degree. Almost half of these persons (46%) were aged 20–24 years and 27% were aged 15-19 years. (Table 3)

Other than Mixed field programmes (31%), which includes persons studying Year 12 or below, the most commonly reported main field of education of current study for persons enrolled in a course leading to a qualification was Management and commerce (17%), followed by Society and culture (13%). (Table 4)

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Level of highest non-school qualification

The proportion of persons with a non-school qualification increased from 40% in May 1997 to 53% in May 2007. In particular, the proportion of persons attaining a Bachelor Degree or above underwent the greatest relative increase (14% in May 1997 to 21% in May 2007). The proportion of persons whose highest non-school qualification was an Advanced Diploma or below increased from 27% in 1997 to 31% in 2007. (Table 7)

PROPORTION OF PERSONS WITH A NON-SCHOOL QUALIFICATION, May 1997 to May 2007

Among the 7.2 million persons with a non-school qualification, the most commonly reported fields of education for the highest non-school qualification were Management and commerce (24%) and Engineering and related technologies (19%). (Table 9)

Of persons with a non-school qualification, 83% were employed, compared to 64% without a non-school qualification. Over three quarters (78%) of employed persons with a non-school qualification were employed full-time, compared to 64% of employed persons without a non-school qualification. (Table 11)

Level of highest educational attainment

Almost one-third (32%) of persons aged 15–64 years reported their level of highest educational attainment as Year 11 or below and 21% reported Year 12. Additionally, more than one in five (21%) had a highest level of attainment of Bachelor Degree or higher and 16% had a Certificate III or IV. (Table 13)

STARTING A COURSE OF STUDY

In May 2007, there were 380,600 persons starting a course of study leading to a qualification, who were not enrolled in such a course in 2006. Of these, 60% were female and 71% were employed, of which 65% were employed full-time. Most of the persons starting a course of study leading to a qualification were aged 15–34 years (233,100 or 61%). (Table 15)

LEAVING A COURSE OF STUDY

In May 2007, there were 942,500 persons leaving a course of study leading to a qualification in which they were enrolled in 2006. Most of the persons leaving a course of study leading to a qualification were employed (84%) and the majority (65%) were aged 15–34 years. (Table 15)